The art I create is my way of celebrating and documenting the deep mysteries of the world that are to be experienced only by close inspection of nature. Walking and taking photos of beautiful and interesting things is part of a practice of inspiration and gratitude that I embraced more than 10 years ago, after the death of my mother left me in a deep funk. I use these photos to inspire my art, often recreating them in a realistic way using acrylic paint on fabric, then stitching it. The subject of this piece is a gorgeous pink and orange coleus, photographed on my morning walk.